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Blues legends help to raise £50,000 for Cure Leukaemia

The inaugural Club Legends Cup indoor football tournament held at the LG Arena on Saturday July 12th has raised £50,000 for Birmingham-based blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia.

This fantastic figure was raised through ticket sales, shirt sponsorship, donations on the day and fan auctions and once leveraged it will be worth £500,000 in potentially life-saving drugs for leukaemia patients around the region.

In front of 3,500 fans, Blues won the Club Legends Cup final on penalties against local rivals West Bromwich Albion to complete a thoroughly successful event which also included former stars from Aston Villa, Coventry City, Walsall and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The fan auctions raised nearly £15,000 for Cure Leukaemia and over twenty supporters became legends for the day as they lined up next to their heroes.

Lee Jervis missed the crucial penalty for West Bromwich Albion in the final but still enjoyed the experience: "That was a terrible penalty but what a great day, I’m still pinching myself. It was brilliant, thank you so much!”

Michael Rhodes won the fan’s penalty shootout to become Penalty King and he took the accolade for fan of the tournament: “I can’t believe I won those awards. I scored in the fan shoot-out but missed in the final so I’m a bit gutted but what an experience!”

Cure Leukaemia Trustee and Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell played for his beloved Blues on the day: “What a fantastic event. This was the first Club Legends Cup, imagine what it will be like second time around!”

Former Wolves defender Jody Craddock took part and addressed the crowd and urged them to donate to Cure Leukaemia: “My son Toby has leukaemia and it’s great that the fans have come out to support the players but let’s not forgot this whole event is for a fantastic charity in Cure Leukaemia so please do donate to a great cause.”

Cure Leukaemia’s Chief Executive James McLaughlin said: “It’s been a phenomenally proud day for the charity and everyone associated with Cure Leukaemia and I can’t thank everybody enough. Without the players, fans, volunteers and sponsors we would not have been able to put on such a great event and the £50,000 raised will directly help leukaemia patients around the region.”

Darren Purse skippered Blues to victory and was integral in helping make the idea of the Club Legends Cup a reality, he said: “It was a brilliant day. Thanks to everyone who took part and especially the fans who played. It was all about making the fans feel like legends for the day and to raise a fantastic amount of money for a truly great charity in Cure Leukaemia and we succeeded on both fronts. I’m delighted Blues were able to lift the Club Legends Cup as well!”

It was all about making the fans feel like legends for the day and to raise a fantastic amount of money for a truly great charity in Cure Leukaemia.